Author: John Everex

Surprise

animal eyes brighten
with a curious surprise
at our intrusion

Birds

carrion counting
Wheatfield Crows circle Van Gogh
birds outside his cage

Answer

The standard answer
died on her bee stung lips,
when she saw his eyes.

Play

the play of sunlight
through the pool’s aquamarine
traces my desire

August

attention rictus
car fuming through august heat
holiday traffic

Cheer

under the bleachers
we hear our team’s raucous cheer
after you’ve told me

Kneel

I’m driven to kneel
at the feet of my longing
and pray for freedom

Listen

we hide from it too
listen, the death of the bees
leaves flowered silence

Lust

the lust in her gaze
monochrome reel flickering
in time with my heart

Second

the second it took
remained in my memory
the rest of my life

Decide

eventually
it’s the final boarding call
she has to decide

Pulse

we all awoke as
the city’s susurration
and rhythmic pulse stopped

Tears

the faded starlet
who was smiling between tears
appeared from nowhere

Weak

collapse together
in a tired, sordid embrace
too weak to abstain

Knock

her knock makes me jump
lost in guilty reverie
I spill my coffee